LEVITIN'S SERIES #1 : STRANGER'S SHARING SURNAME

CHAPTER 24

Nanghihina ako ng matapos akong hindian ni Rheus. And after that I decided that I can live here with him cause I know that he doesn't want me to be in danger.
Sa totoo lang naiisip ko pa rin yung tungkol sa exam namin. Ang mid-term exam na gusto ko na mangyare. And tomorrow's the graduation for this school year.
Marami akong absents na months nung nakaraan because of what happened but I'm still hoping na nasa list pa rin ako ng summa cumlaude.
Gusto ko siyang kausapin but because of my mouth I can't. Ewan ko kung anong nangyare saken ngayon. I can't speak .. I can't uttered any words.
Sa ngayon kahit na nandito ako sana hinahanap na nila ako ni kuya Manuel at Henry.
I hope my father's men will do their best para masundan nila ako dito.
Sa bawat araw na lumilipas at magigising ako sa nipang maliit na ito ay nalulungkot ako.

" Why can't you speak?.."

Yumuko lang ako sa pagtanong saken ni Rheus.

" If you won't say anything just because of the reason I'm hiding you here it's fine until Im still with you in that one month.."

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako. Talagang totohanin niya yung sinasabi niyang isang buwan.
Nakita ko siyang may inaasikaso sa kusina nitong nipa na ito. Then he set our food. Siya na rin yung kumuha ng kakainin ko.
Then he get the keys for my one hand to be free. Yun kasi ang ginagamit ko sa pagkain but my other hand will remain in chain.

" Kain kana masarap yan..."

Tumango lang ako and I started eating.
Even if I'm chained here hindi naman ako nagkanda sugat sugat because the chain is not that tight na talagang tinantsa niya iyung kalakasan at kahigpitan. Eksakto lang para makaginhawa ang kamay ko at hindi mangitim. Because it's been a week na nakatali ako dito.
But if I'm going to take a bath or chabging clothes lumalabas siya ng bahay at talagang nakatakip ang lahat ng nasa bahay katulad kapag gabi.
And then he will stand up outside waiting for me to be done taking a bath and changing clothes. At kapag pumasok na siya matapos kunin lahat ng nakatakip kanina sa buong bahay ay kukunin niya nanaman yung isang susi para itali ang kamay ko.

" Tomorrow is your graduation sana diba?.."

Tumango-tango ako sa sinabi niya. Hoping that he would unchained me and let me attend the graduation kahit titingin lang ako.

" I know that hope in your eyes Herschen but I won't .. Maybe they will caught us and that's the worst thing will happen..."

Matapos ang pagkain at nakahugas na siya ay aalis nanaman siya ng bahay para kumuha ng panggatong.
At sa tuwing aalis siya ay dun ako iiyak sa bahay para maibsan ang dinadama ko.
Hanggang kelan pa akong gaganito?

______

Dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas ay pansin ko
ang pagbabagu ni Rheus. He's so caring and loving man. Naawa ako sa kalagayan niya sapagkat mali man ang nagawa niya sa kakambal ko ay nagawa niya iyun ng dahil sa matinding pagmamahal saken. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko. It's all my fault. It's really all my fault.
Nawiwindang din ako sa sarili ko dahil kahit anong pilit kong magsalita upang kausapin siya o tanungin kung anong problema niya ay walang tunog at walang salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

Tulad ngayon I saw Rheus staring at the huge and tall tree outside this simple nipa hut.
I tried to call him but as usual no sounds came from my mouth.
I saw him sighed and then went through the room. Kung saan kami humihiga at nakita kong nag-eempake siya.
I smiled because finally nagbalak na siyang ibalik na ako.
He also get the keys on the roof where I can't reach it then unclasped me of that chains.
I smiled to him but he was so sad.

"My time has come Herschen... Im setting you free.. It's so nice to have some moments with you and to be with you in that 2 weeks. That was the best 2 weeks for me.."

Naluha ako ng makita kong may tumulong luha sa mga mata niya.
Kaya naman niyakap ko na lang siya. Nakaginhawa ako ng matagal dahil ramdam ko na ang kawala ko. Wala ng kadena na nakakabit sa kamay ko.

" Let's go Herschen I know Maritte's was so damn worried and scared.. I can take the actions of kidnapping you Herschen..."

Naglakad kami sa masukal na kagubatan bagu kami nakarating sa isang highway na puro puno lang din ang nandoon.
Nilagay niya sa backseat ang gamit ko and siya na din ang umalalay saken sa pagsakay.
He also puts the seatbelt for me.
Wala na akong ibang nararamdaman kung hindi kasiyahan. I can now go to my house. I miss my lola I miss kuya Henry and also Daddy and Papa.
I miss my mom and my sister's also kuya Manuel but there's a person who I miss most. It's Maritte.

"You know what? Rheeve is so lucky to have you.
I remember the first time he mentioned a girl when we were little while eating dinner. Mom looks so shock by what news he had.. He said that he met the beautiful girl on Batangas.
I didn't go to that place because I don't want to. Mas gustuhin ko pang sa Manila na lang ako.
But when he mentioned the little girl he's calling Herschel? I got interested  so the next summer I planned to go to Batangas and there I saw the little what my twin brother always telling me.
A little girl who has a long curly hair ends and a bangs .. a little girl that so have a beautiful skin and face. That's the first time I fell inlove. Kaya naman kahit na sa inaakalang tinatraidor ko na ang kakambal ko ay sinusundan ko kayu palagi.
Nagdesisyun si Mom na manirahan na lang kami sa Batangas and that was the start I always saw you with my twin brother not until after 2 years wheh you got 10 years old we can't see you and Rheeve said to me you're going in Manila. At mas natuwa ako ng malamang lilipat din kami sa Manila and that was the happiest of my life because even if I was just staring you far from were you are I can still see your smile and I can still see how happy you are with my twin brother.
Kaya lang nagalit ako sa kakambal ko ng makita kitang umiiyak na lumabas sa apartment niya 4 years ago.
And for those 3 years that I have a relationship on your twin sister I still killed her because she's one of the person hurt you.
Huli na ng pagsisihan ko ang ginawa ko sa kakambal mo.
Nung iniwan ko kayung dalawa sa abandoned place nagbalak akong balikan kayu kasi doon ako natauhan but I was so down when I saw the place burning. Hindi ko na nagawang pumasok pa kasi sobra na ang apoy. Nakita kita sa ambulansiya but your twin sister is not there.
I cried even harder for that.
After a months I don't forget what I did to your twin sister but seeing you in the same Academe where Am I makes me happy.
Dahil nakikita ko sayu ang kakambal mo. I always imagine yourself having a short hair.
Kaya naman sobrang awa ang naramdaman ko sayu ng sinimulan ka nilang i bully sa school. I feel the urge to protect you.
I always thought that You are Lischen so I need to protect you. I don't have anyone for myself that time to support me.
My mother died for what I told her about killing the person she wants me to be with dahil naipakilala ko si Lischen sa kaniya noon. But when I told her that I killed Lischen she got a heart attack and badly she died. Ng matapos ilibing noon ang labi ni Mom I left all alone iniwan ako nila Rheeve at Etta.
Kaya naman nilapitan na kita starting that day that I bumped into you.
Then Maritte came... I also feel a strong feeling when I saw him talking to you while your head is bleeding. At first I thought he hurt you but then I feel like I saw my brother. Hanggang sa nitong nakaraang buwan ko lang nalaman na tunay ko siyang kapatid and Hale was the one who helped them to get away from me.
Aaminin kong naipadala na ako sa isa sa mental institution Herscshen and I got treatment so fast.
Kaya naman ng pumasok ako sa Academe ay nilagay nila sa record ng students enrolled sa Academe. And that's when you saw my name on that record.
Im sorry for everything Herschen. And now Im taking you back to the person who truly owns you nung una  pa lamang.
I guess I should visit Alizza in jail I hear the video on your phone that made me happy  I hear that Lis---------ugh--!!!... "

Nagulat na lang ako ng makita ko ang dugo malapit sa puso ni Rheus. Umaagos iyun at ng malapit na kami sa bandang mahirap na daanan ay pagewang gewang kami. Then I saw Rheus not moving and cupping his heart that full of blood.
Kinuha ko ang seatbelt ko at binuksan ang pinto malapit kay Rheus. I get his seatbelt also and open the door beside him. I forcefully pushed him and when I saw him getting bumped and rolled on the road I'm happy that he's safe now.
Until I hear the loud bang and the fast speed of the vehicle I was in.
Nagulat na lang ako ng mabunggo ako at nakakabit napintuan na nakabukas until the last wheel gave up pero bago pa man mahulog ang sasakyan na kinahahawakan ko ay nakapasok pa ako and the car fall and then I saw the man that I love running towards me and he got a gun on through his hand  while shouting my name.

" HERSCHELLLLL!!!!!!!.."

Pero huli na ang lahat kasi naramdaman ko na ang pananakit ng katawan ko at ang pagkatusok saken ng mga bagay-bagay.. sa katawan ko ng tuluyang mahulog ang sasakyan sa napakalalim na bangin.
And then everything went black..